After six months of training I was still far away from my target. But I also wasn't the same person who set that goal 6 months before.

What impossible goal would transform you?

Consistency over confidence every time.

Favorite nonfiction: Wild Courage
Favorite narrative nonfiction: A Year in Provence (magical reading it in France!)

How about you? What's on your list?

Favorite guilty pleasure series: Dungeon Crawler Carl (so fun!)
Favorite novel of the year: Once a Runner
Favorite re-read: Spinning Silver (always favorite) but Great Expectations and Boyd were close seconds
Least favorite novel: Wicked (honestly, hate it so much)

Publishing is messy. It almost never goes how I want it to, but it often works out how it should (if you can outlast the heartbreak along the way).

Then, a few years ago, an agent I work with offered to represent it, but the client had moved on to other projects.

A week ago, they just reached out and are ready to restart the process. I'm so excited about this project, and 100% confident it will be published.

Hours later, I'm still twisted up about it.

Story 2: Years ago, I worked with a client on a book proposal, but he could never quite find the right agent. I was so disappointed, because it was a great book.

Story 1: Had a call with a top literary agent for a client's book. Usually these are a formality on the path to an offer, but this one started a bit rocky. While it did end on a good note, the agent emailed later to decline.

It happens. We have other offers, but I really wanted this agent.

The best motivation for anything, especially practice, is transcendance, the act of serving something greater than yourself.

Above all, don’t let the bad days keep you from experiencing the good days, and don’t let the good days trick you into thinking the bad days won’t come. As always, keep going.

And then, if you don’t quit, inevitably one day later (or one week, but soon) you have a day so good you think you’re a genius.